Electric lantern



. 27, 1932. F. w. NOFFS ELECTRIC LANTERN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9. 1931 Dec. 27, 1932'.

F. w. NOFFS ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed April 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 In yen for 1%; 2M J of/b 5y 9x2314 4 Jzzarfley Dec. 27, 1932,

F. w. NOFFS ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed April 9, 1931 4 Sb tS-Sheet 4 fl y/1 Patented Dec. 27, 1932 7 PATENT OFFICE FRED W. NOFFS, OF IBELLWOOD, ILLINOIS ELECTRIC mam Application filed April 9, 1931. Serial No. 528,772.

This invention relates to improvements in electric lanterns.

One object of the invention is to provide an electric lantern comprising a suitable casing and a battery or dry cell container from which the cells can be readily removed for renewal and fresh cells installed with little inconvenience. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a dry cell container for a lantern in which standard dry cells can be employed, such as flash light cells, for example, whereby a user of my improvements will have nodificulty in renewing the cells of his lantern.

A further object of the invention is to provide a, lantern which may be provided with several lamps controlled by a single switch operating member.

. The invention is especially useful in con- 4% nection with railroad work, such as by switchmen, brakemen or other train operators and by yard men, such as car checkers, et cetera. The lantern, as will be obvious, is useful in other relations, however.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig.1 is a top plan view of a cell receptacle or container and associated parts.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. t

F ig. 3 is a broken sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a lantern casing provided with a cell container of the type shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of the lantern shown in Fig. 4. v

Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of lantern, the cell container of which is formed of two sections. Fig. 7 1s a top plan view of the container shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the lower section of the container.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the assembled container and associated parts, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. '10 is a similar view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram of the lantern shown in Figs. 6-10.

Fig. 12 is a further modification of the invention shown embodied in a conventional railroad oil lantern.

Fig. 13 is a broken top plan view of the cell container shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on line 1414.of Fig. 13.

i In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to4, the container 10, which carries the dry cells, lamps, wiring and switch, is adapted to be inserted in a casing 11 (see Fig. 4 which has a handle 12, base 13, lens 14, re ector 15, and a hinged back 16, which may be held in closed position by a. clip 17. The cell container 10 is shown as provided with sockets 18 for the reception of eight dry cells. The container is made of suitable electrical insulating material, such as bakelite, and instead of being made of a solid piece of material, it may have unnecessary portionsremoved to reduce the weight thereof.

At the base of each socket or recess 18 is a spring contact 19, which contacts with the positive terminal of the dry cell. The contact 19 extends into a metal sleeve or cup 20 l and rests upon a conducting spring 21, which makes suitable electric contact with the cup 20 by means of a metal plug 22, which closes the lower end of said cup or sleeve. Extending from each cup 20 is a conductor strip 23 (see Fig. 3), which is connected to'a conducting bolt 24 which passes through the container 10. The opposite end of the bolt 24 is, threaded and has a nut 25 thereon, which is turned down upon a conducting and holding clip 26, which makes contact with the bottom or negative terminal "of' an adjacent cell. The cells 26 of the lantern are connected in two groups, the cells of each group being connected in series for six volt lamps, and the two groups are connected in parallel, as indicated in the diagram in Fig. 5. As indicated in the diagram, two lamps 27, 28 are provided in the circuit. Byv turning the switch rod 29 so that the bridge '30 bears on both contacts 31, 32 as shown, both lamps will be lighted. The rod may be turned, however, so either lamp 31 or 32 will be lighted. Thus, should one lamp burn out, the other is availpositioned in conventional screw sockets 33 6 carried by the container 10. A contact 34 extends into the metal sleeve 35 containing a spring 36 and an'ad'usting plug 36a. A conductor 37 for each lamp is connected to the sleeve 35 as indicated. The sockets 33 are also connected by conductors 38 in the circuits.

The switch rod 29 (see Fig. 2) passes through the center of the container 10 1nto a recess 39, in which is positioned the switch mechanism. To the lower end of the rod 29 is secured an insulating member 40 which carries a contact pin or bridging member formed in two sections 41, 42 with a spring 43 interposed between the same-to insure proper contact. Section 41 bears against the arcuate' contact 44, while the section 42 may i is provlded wit be moved to contact with either the contacts 31, 32 for closing the circuit to the respective lamps 27, 28 or it may be moved out of contact with both said contacts 31, 32 for extinguishin both lamps. As shown in Fig. 1, the bri ging section 42 carries an arcuate shoe 42a capable of bridging the contacts 31,32.

It will be seen in this form of the invention that all the cells 26 are inserted in the sockets or chambers 18 in the same manner, that is, with their positive contacts or poles down.

The front of the carrier 10 may be provided with plates 45 and 46 at the front and rear as shown in Fig. 2. To replace the cells, the clips 47 may be turned to one side, the plate 46 removed, and nuts 25 loosened. The clips 26 can then be swung around to release the dry cells and fresh ones inserted.

The switch rod 29 extends through the back 16 of the casing 11 and is provided with an operating knob 48 as shown in Fig. 4.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 11, the dry cell container or receptacle is formed in two parts 50, 51 adapted to be held together latches 52. This container chambers or sockets 18' for the reception of four dry cells 26 connected in series as shown in Fig. 11. Three lamps 53, 54 and 55 are provided, the first two on the upper end of the container section 50, and the third in the lower recessed end of the sec ion 51.

The chambers 18 for the dry cells 26 are formed partly in each of the container sections 50, 51, as shown in Fig. 9. In registration with each of the cell chambers 18 are spring contacts 56 similar to those previouslydescribed. The cells 26 are alternately inverted in this formof lamp, that is, one cell is arranged withthe positive pole up, the next cell has its positive pole down and so on. Thus two ad acent cells can be connected in series relation through their respective contacts 56, at the upper surface of the container section and at the lower end of section 51. The connection of the various cells 26 is indicated in Fig. 11. In this figure a switch, indicated generally by the numeral 57, comprises a bridging member 58, an arcuate contact 59 and two spaced cont-acts 60, 61. By rotating the rod 62 the member 59 can be moved into contact with contact 60, in which case both lamps 53 and will light, or into contact with contact 61, in which case lamp 54 will be lighted. Lamp 55 is positioned in the bottom of the lantern and may be provided with a reflector 62 and lens 63.

The lamp can be used as a spot light and is articularly useful for checking numbers of box cars in railway yards and for signalling. While lamp 55 is lighted, lamp 53 is also. Lamp 53 is positioned in the top of the lantern and shielded by a removable cap or cover 64 provided with lenses 65, through which light is emitted. When the lantern is held. under the arm for training the light from lamp 55 upon a train of moving cars, the light from the lamp 53 will illuminate the paper or records upon which the car numbers are being entered. The lantern is not limited, however, to railroad use.

The switch 57 is operated by a handle or knob 64 secured to the rod 62 for turning off.

the current or in turning it on to lamps 54 or to both lamps.53 and 55. For signalling to switchmen or the like, the single lamp 54 will'be used. The lamps 53 and 54, which are mounted on the upper end of the carrier section 50, are connected in the respective circuits by means of conductor rods 65, whlch terminate in suitable spring contacts 66 which in turn make contact with the conductors 67. By this arrangement the container sections 50, 51 can be separated readily for replacing the dry cells and the respective circuits re-established by returning the carrier. sections to their former positions. In replacing the cells, the cap or cover 64 of the casing is removed, whereupon the container 50 can be slid from the casing. Upon releasing the latches 52, the carrier sections can be separated and the dry cells dropped from their chambers and new ones quickly installed. Removing lamps from their sockets or making electrical connections is thus not required.

vided with four regismring dry cell recesses 76, in the cells 77 are positioned, each alternate cell having its positive pole or contact at the bottom of the recess. Both container portions 74, 75 are provided with spring contact members 78 arranged in registration with the respective recesses 76 for establishing contact with the cells. or conduits 79 connect the cells in series, a rotatable switch member 80 being provided for pressing a spring contact 81 into contact with a terminal 82 for closing the circuit contains the lamp 83. The switch member 80 is mounted on a rod 84 which has a nut 85 or other means for holding the rod against vertical displacement. The lower end of the rod has a knurled nut 86 for operating the rod and switch.

Surrounding the lower portion of the rod 84 is a tube or sleeve 87, the upper end of which is secured to the upper portion of the lower container section .75, while the lower end extends through an opening in the bot tom of the receptacle 7 4 and is provided with a nut 88 for holding the container against displacement when the lantern is inverted.

The container sections 74, 75 are provided with latches 89 for holding them together as a unit.

To renew the dry cells, the container is removed from the lantern, after first removing the nuts 86 and 88, the container portions separated, and the cells dropped out. It will thus be seen that upon placing fresh cells in the container in the proper manner, they will be connected in series when the container portions are again secured together and the lantern will be ready for use upon installation in the lantern frame.

Although I have shown and described certain specific forms of my improvements for the purpose of illustrations I do not wish to be restricted thereto except as so limited by. the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electric lantern comprising a casing, a dry cell container therefor removable therefrom as a unit, said container comprising two separable sections having registering recesses therein for holding dry cells,

' contact members in each recess, separable conductors connecting said contacts in an electric circuit, a lamp in said circuit, and a switch for controlling current to said lamp.

2. An electric lantern comprising a casing, a dry cell container therefor removable therefrom, said container comprising two separable portions having registering recesses therein, each pair of registering recess being adapted to hold a dry cell, contacts in the end walls of said recess for the respective dry cells, conductors for connecting said cells in a lamp circuit, a switch in one of said container portions for said clrcuit, and a switch Suitable wires operating member carried by said container and extending exteriorly of said casing.

' 3. An electric lantern comprising a casing, a dry cell container therefor removable therefrom, said container comprising two separable sections having registering recesses in contiguous faces thereof for holding dry cells, contacts in the end walls of each recess for the respective dry cells, conductors for connecting said contacts in a lamp circuit, a switch for said circuit, and a switch operating member extending exteriorly of said casing, said lamp, switch, and operating member being carried by said container and being removable from said casing with said container.

4. A battery container for an electric lantern comprising a pair of container sections arranged in end to end relation, said sections each having recesses extending from the respective end toward the opposite end, each recess of one of said sections registering with a recess of said other section to provide a dry cell holding compartment, a spring con tact in the end of each of said recesses, for contacting with the poles of a dry cell within the respective compartments, conductors connecting said contacts in a lamp circuit, certain of said conductors extending from one container portion to the other, said certain conductors being separable adjacent the contiguous faces of said container portions, a switch for said circuit and a switch operating member therefor, said switch and operating member being carried by said container.

5. An electric lantern comprising a casing, an insulating dry cell container removable therefrom, said container having recesses therein for holding dry cells, said container being formed in two sections each having contact members for contact with the terminals of said cells, conductors in said sections for connecting said contacts in a lamp circuit, said conductors beingseparable at the contacting faces of said sections to permit the separation of the latter, and a switch for said circuit.

6. An electric lantern comprising a casing,

an insulating dry cell container removable fixed my signature.

FRED W. NOFFS. 

